Sunday Nick Author: Cecilia Email: cecihz@adinet.com.uy Rating : G Summary: I put Nick in NY (is the only American city I know enough to mention some streets, places or interesting spots. I would´ve loved to take him to my hometown, but that would sound too unreal). This is before Swann & Cranston and before Minette. And even when he told the therapist he couldn’t remember being happy, I´m sure he was happy then. Author's Note: I want to thank Suz and Deb, because at one moment they encouraged me to write a fanfic; niki c. and Lambertoise who read it and found it fun enough to share it at the board. And again Deb, who volunteered to be my beta-reader and turned my English into something decent and gave me hints to make my story better. (to fourbeccaone, who encourages everybody to write fanfic) And of course Nick Fallin is Nick Fallin, created by DH….the rest is mine (I hope so!) --+-- “Hey, Nick!” Nick jumped and turned, trying to find out from where the voice and the whistle were coming. He openly smiled when saw her, (hidden behind her tortoise shell glasses) in a cab stopped at the traffic light. He moved forward to close the distance. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He rang the doorbell again. He could hear talking inside and had been standing there five minutes, waiting for someone to show up. The only reason he didn’t leave was because the neighborhood and the building were fine, and the price more than good. Finally, the door opened. “Hi! I was on the phone. My boyfriend is . . . Come in!? Put the papers on that table, please. Well, he is really mad because I didn’t tell him I took out an ad looking for a new roommate. Take a look of the place, please. I have to get dressed. Do you have plans? I’m going to the market. You can come with me and we discuss money and conditions. You know, he says any kind of maniac could show up.” By then, Nick was sure he wanted to move in: big windows, a fireplace, old couches and armchairs, plants…few paintings…a little bit crowded but cozy. The girl had left him alone, while she kept talking. “You’re not planning to kill me…aren’t you?” She had opened the door of her bedroom and put out her head, smiling while asking. “Uh,” he seemed to hesitate. “No.” It was actually the first thing he said, and he waited for her reaction. She laughed. Nick grinned. “Ok, I’m ready. Hey, I’m Carol….and you are….?” “Nick, Nick Fallin.” “Hi, Nick…Nice to meet you!” Carol grabbed his hand and shook it, as if they were two kids closing a deal. Nick scratched his head. She was peculiar and cute. For the next two hours, Carol made Nick taste every single piece of organic food they found, carry two big pots with yellow tulips, and pay for enough croissants to feed an army at Dean & Delucca. It was while riding in a cab he forced her to get in that Carol decided Nick would be the perfect roommate. Well, almost perfect. She was sure there would be a procession of girls going in and out, but that wasn’t THAT bad. “When do you wanna move?” She handed him a cup of coffee, while bringing hers and the pastry. “Thought you have more candidates,” he muttered. “Yes, I do. …But I’m sure you are the right one. I’ll let Griff check your references tomorrow…He’ll want to make sure I’m safe with you here.” She lifted her eyes and added, mischievously, “It’ll be better if you just call. Don’t show up until he finishes the papers. I know he’ll give me a headache the moment you meet.” Nick didn’t answer or look at her. He stayed quiet, enjoying the coffee. He was watching the sky turning gray as the first raindrops hit the glass, hearing her voice without paying any attention on what she was saying. He wondered why all this made him feel so good. It had been a perfect afternoon. He had a warm feeling, and her non-stop chatter lulled him to sleep. “Do you wanna take a nap?” she asked. “Uh…Sorry, I was tired….Yesterday I went…” “Love is never having to say I’m sorry”! And she threw him a blanket. Nick took it, stretched on the couch half covered, listening to his new roommate whistle in the kitchen. “No pets, no drugs in the place, any shoes or socks in the bathroom, every place is shared but the bedrooms . . . “ He trusted his charm and his negotiating skills enough to know he’d be making his way there very soon. Yes, there was a boyfriend somewhere. He smiled. His last aware thought was he could spend the next Sunday just like this. And the next. And the next. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just before he reached the corner, the light changed and the cab moved on. Nick stood there, watching how she waved and left him behind once more. He rubbed his neck, thinking, and went back to his car . . . remembering his father was there, waiting for him. “Ex girlfriend?” Burton baited. “Uh….no.” Nick unlocked the doors grinning. . And he turned the engine on, still smiling. ~fin~